'Canes get 16-inning win over UNC, split doubleheader

May 17, 2014|By Christy Cabrera Chirinos, Sun Sentinel

CORAL GABLES — There have been plenty of dramatic moments during the Hurricanes’ late-season surge.

But none was as big as the one that came Friday afternoon when Miami got a walk-off single from Tyler Palmer that featured a play at the plate and scored the two runs that gave the Hurricanes a 6-5 win over North Carolina in a 16-inning marathon at Alex Rodriguez Park.

The game, which lasted five hours and five minutes, ties a Miami record for longest home game in school history and the seventh-ranked Hurricanes have now won 26 of their last 28.

Palmer, a former University School standout, had a career-high five hits and two RBI. His biggest hit of the day—a single to right—first scored David Thompson. A moment later, Ricky Eusebio snuck in under the tag of North Carolina catcher Adrian Chacon to score the winning run and set off a wild celebration as the Hurricanes ran onto the field and mobbed Palmer.

“It was a fastball away. [Trevor] Kelley was throwing from pretty much behind my back and I just stayed on it and drove it to the opposite field,” Palmer said. “He was working me away. Thankfully, it ended the game. This is a dream come true. I never imagined my Senior Day being like this. It doesn’t get much better.”

In a game that featured nine pitchers between the two teams, Hurricanes senior Javi Salas came on in the 12th inning and pitched the rest of the way to earn his fourth win of the season while Palm Beach Central alum Alex Hernandez had three hits for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes and Tar Heels (31-22, 14-14) combined for 30 hits in the game, which was the first of a doubleheader with the second game getting started just after 9 p.m.

The Hurricanes are now 3-0 all-time in 16-inning games and their 23 ACC wins match a school record.

But things didn't go as well for Miami in the second game of the doubleheader. North Carolina scored four runs in the first en route to an 11-2 win over the Hurricanes (39-15, 23-6) in the late game.

Thompson returns

The other highlight of Friday afternoon’s game was the return of Miami first baseman David Thompson, who missed 32 games after needing surgery in March to alleviate swelling in his arm after being diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Thompson went 2-for-6 with two runs in his return. He also played in the second game of the doubleheader.